Taunton Opiate Task Force hosting addiction forum on Monday

Lori Gonsalves and her son Corey, a Taunton High School graduate, will share their heart-wrenching story of heroin addiction in front of a large crowd on Monday.

They hope their tale of pain may help others escape the same traps. The Gonsalves are but one family fighting heroin addiction in Greater Taunton.

“We know that people, especially young people, are persuaded more by personal stories from people like them, and it is with this understanding that we’ve structured the forum on Monday night,” said Taunton Schools Superintendent Julie Hackett. “Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions of our panelists and access community resources. I know it’s June and it’s a very busy time of year, but this is an event that no one should miss. I encourage all Taunton educators, students — middle and high, parents, school community members, and local officials to attend.”

Although the overdose rate has slowed to a trickle, community leaders are stressing the need to maintain a conversation revolving around the city’s opiate problem.

Members of Mayor Thomas C. Hoye Jr.’s Taunton Opiate Task Force want families to turn out Monday, June 9, to continue delving into the impact of opiate abuse in the Silver City.

“I would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts thus far,” Hoye said. “I am proud of the way our community has rallied together to fight this problem that affects so many families and communities. I would encourage anyone with questions or ideas to attend and participate in Monday night’s forum.”

The conversation began earlier this year as overdose rates climbed to record levels. Hoye convened a forum on Feb. 17 to spark a dialogue.

That discussion picks up at tonight's forum, scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Friedman Middle School, 500 Norton Ave.

Hoye urges “all community members, residents and visitors” to attend, and promises the forum will “feature personal stories of local residents affected by opiate addition, school district programs and support information, and resource materials.”

Medical and opiate addiction professionals will also be on hand to answer questions from attendees.

The TOTF includes members from the Taunton Police Department, Taunton School Department, Board of Health, Human Services, Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter’s Office, Taunton District Court, Bristol Juvenile Court, Learn 2 Cope, Seven Hills Foundation, CCIT/CCBC, Veterans Affairs, the inter-faith community, local family members of addiction victims and additional addiction related agencies, according to Hoye.

“Mayor Hoye and the Taunton community have done an exceptional job calling attention to the problem of opiate addiction in our city,” Hackett said. “Opiate addiction plagues many communities throughout the nation, but only a few are speaking out about this issue. It takes courage for local officials to confront something as horrible as heroin abuse; fortunately, Taunton’s municipal leaders have shown that they are honest and brave. Now that we’ve put the problem out there, it’s time for us all to work together to put an end to this horrible epidemic.”

The forum will conclude with the debut of a public service announcement created by the TOTF.

“Morton Hospital recognizes our city’s ongoing opiate issue and we are doing all we can to help address it,” said Morton Hospital President Kim Bassett. “This is the second community forum that we are participating in as part of our effort to spread awareness to parents and youth about the impacts of drug use from a medical perspective — specifically the dangers of drug use and how it affects your body from a physiological standpoint.”

TOTF was initiated by Hoye earlier this year “to bring individuals from different backgrounds, working with or affected by opiate addiction, together to communicate issues, collaborate solutions and combat opiate addiction in the city of Taunton.”

Its members are taking their roles seriously.

“As a member of the Mayor’s Taunton Opiate Task Force, I know the strong role that education plays in putting an end to opiate addiction in the city of Taunton,” Hackett said. “We want our children to grow up in a healthy, thriving community, so we are doing our part to teach children and school community members about the dangers of opiate addiction.”

Participants are hoping the collaboration across the community will strengthen efforts to fight a complicated enemy: addiction.

“This ongoing community collaboration is extremely important in combating this public health issue, and we applaud the Mayor’s office and the Taunton Public Schools for taking action and facilitating these community discussions,” Bassett said. “We are currently planning another educational program for the fall targeting our local high school students, and we look forward to continuing to work with our local partners to provide education and resources to our community on an ongoing basis.”